Being aware of current political developments is important
to good citizenship. Each exam will have at least one question requiring
students to reflect on current political news and relate such developments to
the material we are studying about terrorism and homeland security.

There may also be journal articles assigned from time to time.

Students may want to read material from a number of online sites.

Students should make extensive use of “Homeland Security Affairs” the Journal
of Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security which may
be found online at: http://www.hsaj.org/?home

Week 1 Introduction to the Study of Terrorism and Homeland
SecurityJan. 16-20
Read: Terrorism and CounterterrorismChpt. 1, articles 1, 2 Terrorism in the Twenty-First CenturyChpts.
1, 2
Also
read debates over the definition of terrorism on the following online sites: http://blog.syracuse.com/news/2008/02/terrorism_expert_bruce_hoffman.htmlhttp://www.cdi.org/friendlyversion/printversion.cfm?documentID=1564
Special Topics:
M:No classes on Monday, University not
yet open, Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, see special
programs
W: What is
Terrorism?
F: Surveying the
Threat
Essay No. 1 Explain the political issues involved in the debate over
how best to define this phenomenon.After explaining the conceptual problems associated with defining
terrorism, advance and defend the best definition of the phenomenon. This three page essay is due on Friday by
4:00 p.m.

Essay No. 5Write a three page essay on opposition to the existence of Israel as a
central cause advanced by many Middle Eastern Terrorist movements.This essay is due on Friday by 4:00 p.m.

Week 7 Religion and Terrorism; Origins and Evolution of Al
QaedaFeb. 27-March 2 Read: The 9/11 Commission Report,
Chpts. 2, 4, 5Terrorism and
CounterterrorismChpt.
3, page 199, article 4; Chpt. 4, articles 1, 2, 3; Chpt. 5, article 4The following article on religious
fundamentalism and modernity should also be read:http://nationalinterest.org/article/the-fundamentalists-4891
Special Topics:
M: Religion and Terrorism: From the Muslim
Brotherhood to Al Qaeda
W: Jihad against the Soviet Occupation of
Afghanistan
F: Declaring War on America Essay No. 6Write a three page essay explaining how Al Qaeda became more powerful and
why it chose to declare war on America and launch the 9/11 attacks.This essay is due on Friday by 4:00 p.m.

Week 9 Planning to Protect the HomelandMarch 19-23 Read: The 9/11 Commission Report,
Chpts. 3, 6, 11, 12, 13Online article on risks,
costs, and benefits associated with homeland security efforts: Mueller,
John, and Mark G. Stewart. “Balancing the Risks, Benefits, and Costs of
Homeland Security.” Homeland
Security Affairs 7, Article 16 (August 2011)http://www.hsaj.org/?article=7.1.16Online article on grand
strategy: http://www.hsaj.org/?fullarticle=6.1.2Online article on
information sharing between agencies: http://www.hsaj.org/?fullarticle=6.1.5Online article on
Homeland Security: http://www.hsaj.org/?fullarticle=6.1.8Online article on the
issue of randomness: http://www.hsaj.org/?fullarticle=6.1.6
Special Topics:
M: Planning and Preparedness Before 9/11
W: Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission
and Other Reports
F: The Implementation and Critique of
the 9/11 Commission's RecommendationsEssay No. 7Write a three page essay in which you evaluate the most important
recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. This essay is due on Friday by
4:00 p.m.

Gives a good synopsis of the oft mentioned
State of the Union speech practice of locating a Presidential Successor outside
of the National Capital Region (NCR).

Essay No. 8Write a three page essay on the debate over how to balance security with the
rule of law and protection of personal liberties.This essay is
due on Friday by 4:00 p.m.

Week 11 Preventing Future AttacksApril 2-6 Read: Terrorism in the Twenty-First
CenturyChpt. 13For some excellent reports on airline
transportation security look at the articles linked at the following site:http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/aviation-security.shtm
For some excellent reports on border and port security look
at the articles linked at the following site: http://www.counterterrorismtraining.gov/pubs/port.html
Special Topics:
M: Aviation Security
W: Port Security
F: Border Security ….. We will have a
guest speaker from the Department of Homeland Security so you must read the
material below on United States
Border Security:

Please review the following and familiarize yourself with
the following so that we may have a good discussion on Friday:

Week 12 The WMD NightmareApril 9-13Read: Terrorism and CounterterrorismChpt. 5, articles 1, 3Terrorism in
the Twenty-First CenturyChpts. 13, 14The
following from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists
bioterrorism agents for which fact sheets are available:http://emergency.cdc.gov/bioterrorism/factsheets.asp

April 27 Last day of ClassesApril 28 Reading Day
April 30- May 4 Final Exam Period
Your final exam will count for 1/6 of your semester grade. It will be a
comprehensive essay examination. It will be given on
Monday, April 30 at 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.May 12 Commencement

Grading:Your
grade will be based upon three tests given during the course of the semester,
combined score on 10 critical thinking writing exercises, your contributions to
class discussion, and a final exam. Each of these will count for 1/6 of your
semester grade. All tests will involve an essay format. The final examination
will be comprehensive.Grading: This course
uses the + and – grading scale.

The total
possible number of points to earn for the course is 600.Grades will be assigned according to the
following percentages:

A+ = 98-100%

A = 92-97%

A-= 90-91%

B+ = 88-89%

B = 82-87%

B-= 80-81%

C+ = 78-79%

C = 72-77%

C-= 70-71%

D+ = 68-69%

D = 62-67%

D- = 60-61%

F = 59% and
below

Students with
Disabilities:

If you have
a documented disability and require accommodations to obtain equal access in
this course, please let me know at the beginning of the semester or when given
an assignment for which an accommodation is required.The Director of Disability Support Services
can be reached at x2391.

Ten Essays:You will
write 10 three page essays during the course of the semester. The topics for
these short essays are listed in the course outline. Each paper is worth
10 points and is due on the Friday of each week for which a paper is due. Late
papers will lose points.
The papers will follow the Turabian format.
A shorter version of that style manual can be found on the History style
manual at the following web address: http://www.longwood.edu/philpolhist/resources.htm

Taking Exams:Exams must be taken on time. You are expected to provide
proof for any legitimate reason (illness, participation in a
University-sponsored activity, or recognizable emergency) you have for missing
an exam. Having another test on the dame day or having problems with the
person you are dating are not valid reasons for missing a test.